TEHRAN - Mohsen Pakaeen, Irans previous ambassador to Baku, has actually informed the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations (SCFR), that the blockade of the Lachin corridor by Azerbaijan has caused criticisms and dissatisfaction by Armenia.The Lachin crossing is the path that links Karabagh to Armenia and this crossing is the only exit from Karabagh to Armenia, where food, well-being and other necessary products are usually moved to Karabagh, Pakaeen said.The previous ambassador stated if the crossing remains closed, practically the Armenians residing in the region will come under economic siege.If the siege is extended, it will result in a humanitarian disaster, the former diplomat predicted.He stated that this concern is really important, specifically in the field of carrying medication and food in the winter season season.Armenia has stated that the Republic of Azerbaijan has completely closed the Lachin crossing, however the Azerbaijani side firmly insists that the crossing is not closed.
Azerbaijan says just sometimes, limitations have been imposed, claiming that Armenia smuggles minerals from the area.The former ambassador said the truth is that the Armenians of Karabakh are presently captured in a complex scenario and this issue may be because of the complete blockade of Lachin or constraints on the motion of Armenians from Karabakh to Armenia and vice versa.In any case, Pakaeen said, this scenario is not an excellent and these actions are against the requirements of human rights, and as a result, many innocent people have actually been exposed to danger and harm.Referring to the function of local gamers and international organizations, Pakaeen said Azerbaijan needs to be asked to eliminate the limitations but it deserves to keep track of the mines in the region.Preventing misuse of mines must not be a reason to close the crossing, he suggested.The Lachin region belongs to the Republic of Azerbaijan, and it deserves to work out sovereignty over the area, and if the claim of mineral smuggling is true, it can quickly avoid the action, the former diplomat pointed out.Reminding that these Armenians are citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan and must not be jeopardized, Pakaeen noted it is possible that due to the non-opening of the Zangzor corridor, the Republic of Azerbaijan is looking for a countermeasure to obstruct the Lachin corridor.Yerevan has actually announced that it is all set to open the Zangzor corridor on the condition that its sovereignty over its territorial integrity of Armenia is maintained.
The passage lies in Sivnik province of Armenia and is thought about part of the territorial integrity of the country.Emphasizing that the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia must respect each others territorial integrity and observe global requirements, the specialist on the South Caucasus area stated the Republic of Armenia must accept that Karabakh is under the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan and embrace the option to the concern based upon this truth.
And the Republic of Azerbaijan need to accept that the Sionik corridor is inside Armenia and Yerevan has the right to work out sovereignty over it.
Noting that justifications by Turkey and the Zionist routine should not be overlooked, Pakaeen said Turkey, which has a historic dispute with Armenia, is not thinking about seeing a normalization of relations between Yerevan and Baku.War, or a minimum of not war and not peace, is desirable for Turkey, the previous diplomat remarked.Likewise, the Zionist regime, which offers weapons to Baku and also has intelligence and security cooperation with Armenia, is not interested in an end to the tension because case it will lose its benefits, he said.However, joint efforts by Iran and Russia as arbitrators can help reduce the dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan to create a much better scenario in the region, Pakaeen noted.Referring to the negotiations in the previous days between Russia, the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, the previous ambassador said Tehran and Moscow strongly oppose any change to the geopolitics of the region and it is essential to focus on this red line.
Until the negotiations between Yerevan and Baku continue, and the celebrations do not seek to resolve the issue through military methods and there is no threat of threatening the geographical borders, Iran and Russia ought to attempt to decrease their issues through mediation.
If the military course is to be followed and the geographical borders are changed, which appears not likely in the existing situation, then other choices need to be taken into factor to consider, the former diplomat suggested.Pakaeen emphasized that it seems not likely that Armenia will cede the Sionik passage to the Republic of Azerbaijan by disregarding its territorial integrity, because in that case the connection in between the north and the south of Armenia will be totally cut off and a big part of its territorial stability will be lost.The resistance revealed by Armenia is intended not to lose control over its territorial integrity, he said.At the same time efforts need to be made for the Armenians of the Republic of Azerbaijan, who are in Karabakh, to get out of the siege, he added.
The uncertainties of the Moscow Agreement, which was signed with the existence of Russia in between Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, ought to be resolved and it must be clarified precisely which countrys territorial integrity the Zangzor corridor comes from.
Obviously, the Russians have declared that this passage is within the territorial stability of Armenia, however this concern needs to be included in the contracts.
At the same time, Nagorno-Karabakh should go back to the Republic of Azerbaijan and Baku should promise to respect the rights of the Armenian minorities of Nagorno-Karabakh and not create any issues for them.
Otherwise, there is constantly the possibility of disputes and scattered conflicts, the former ambassador specified.